Supporting young people into independent living, learning & work

The Whitehaven Foyer is a charity that provides a safe place for young people to live, learn and make the transition to independent adulthood. Our newly built residential accommodation consisting of independent living flats and shared facilities, together with training and personalised support, offer our residents a platform for their development that is unique to our area.

To contribute to the sustainability of this valuable resource, we have also redeveloped the old YMCA building into a Business Centre, a facility which offers meeting rooms and lettable space.

Click the links below for more information about our supported accommodation and Business Centre.

Our Story

The Whitehaven Foyer is a Charity established in 2012, to develop and run West Cumbria’s first Foyer.
The Foyer was set up by two local organisations, Impact Housing Association and Howgill Family Centre. As local organisations they saw the need for such a facility and together have the skills and experience to have made this happen.

What is a Foyer?

Foyers provide a safe place for young people who are in housing need between the ages of 16-25 a place to live, learn and make the transition to independent adulthood. Offering personal development and other services that enable young people to reconnect with learning, increase their employability, improve their health and wellbeing and develop their leadership potential.

Our Aims

Our aim is to ensure that our accommodation, services and support are suitable for those who are referred to us, and that procedures are in place to ensure the commitment of potential beneficiaries to training or education to enhance the skills required for independence once they leave us. Impact Housing Association, in operating the residential accommodation under a lease, is committed to fulfilling this objective.

Working in Partnership

The Whitehaven Foyer has taken a partnership approach from the outset, seeking to develop and facilitate partnerships to complement existing provision, offering young people a range of opportunities to help them overcome barriers and support them in achieving their goals and ambitions.